Shopping for Christmas gifts can be a challenge when you’re on a tight budget. Here are a few tips for tackling Christmas shopping without overspending.
Make a List
Decide who you want to buy Christmas gifts for and get the names down on paper. You may be surprised by how long your list is because if you’re like most people, your gift-giving isn’t limited to your immediate family. You may also be planning to buy for teachers, neighbors, and the white elephant office party, and then you end up wondering how your Christmas spending got so out of hand. Getting everything down in front of you will help you know how much you can realistically plan to spend on each person.
Set Your Budget
Instead of just deciding what you want to buy for each person on your lists and just letting the chips fall where they may set an actual budget. Figure out the total amount that you want to spend, and then decide how to best distribute that. As Christmas draws closer, part of the fun is figuring out how to purchase the gifts you want at a price that you’re willing to pay.
Use Cash
There’s a reason that credit counseling businesses see a surge of customers in January and February; so many people pay for their purchases with a credit card, figuring that they will enjoy the season now and worry about the payments later. This year, do yourself a favor and only purchase gifts when you can afford to pay for them right then. This forces you to stick to your budget and makes you more mindful of getting the best deal.
Shop Alone
As fun as it is to shop with partners or children, the company makes it much more difficult to concentrate on getting good deals and sticking to your budget. There’s also the temptation to turn the shopping excursion into an event that is complete with a visit to a restaurant, a movie, or even a few purchases for them or yourself. An extra $30 here and $20 there really adds up and can cut into your overall budget.
Focus on Gift-Giving
As you’re moving through your Christmas gift list and shopping for loved ones, do you find it easy to throw a few things into your cart for yourself? This year, institute a “no shopping for yourself” rule. Instead, put together a wishlist that you can pass along to parents, spouses, or children who don’t know what to buy for you. They’ll appreciate the ideas and you’ll appreciate the money that you’ll save.
Chip in On Bigger Gifts
Want to give a parent or sibling a nice gift but not sure how to do it with the modest limit you’ve set? Consider asking a few family members if they’d be interested in sharing the expense of a pricier gift. You’ll automatically stick to your budget for that person right down to the penny, but you’ll be able to help ensure that they’ll get something that they love.
If you’re looking for an easy way to stick to your budget and get your Christmas shopping done quickly, then check out the Soundwave Art gift certificates. Our gift certificates can be put toward any item in our shop, making it easy for you to give a gift that is sure to be loved for years to come.
